Important day for Ghana, as the country is set to pump its first oil out of the ground. The discovery of such natural resources should be something to celebrate, as it will increase the economy of the country.
Nonetheless, this also carries a potential danger, as some analysts have pointed out, given the absence of a clear legal framework (the Petroleum Bill drafted was scrapped by the new government when came to power) and an independent regulator. All of which can increase the potential for non-transparent activities and for oil revenues not to benefit the Ghanaian people as much as it should (or even increasing the country’s debt). And adding to the concerns about the accountability of Ghanaian public officials, the Guardian reveals today “wikileaked” documents that detail the extent to which drug trafficking affect the country’s institutions.